Dallas Sierra Club Calendar

We will meet Thursday morning at the Gordon Motel in Jasper Arkansas at 8:30 AM.  We will shuttle cars to the trailheads and start hiking by 11:00.  Our route will take us thru many lovely hollows and up across high bluffs.  Along the route we will visit several homesteads and other historical sights.  Weather this time of year can range from highs in the 50s to snow and freezing temperatures.  However, with the leaves off the trees, the vistas are unique.

I plan to drive up the day before and spent the night in Jasper.  Carpooling is encouraged.  Leader approval in advance of the the rendezvous date is required.   Trip rated: Moderately Strenuous. Leader: Bill Beach Send Email 214-662-3224

Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

What is a NARD? Come find out! Fall and winter are great times of the year to see birds migrating through areas providing stopover habitat. With the recent rains, the ponds and wetlands at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge should be full, providing essential stopover habitat for not only waterfowl and wetland birds, but various raptors and songbirds alike. Things you might see include: large flocks of snow geese and several other species of waterfowl and wetland birds along with a smattering of raptors. Some of the waterfowl seen on our last trip included NARDS-North American Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeon, Common Shovellers, Gadwall, and Northern Pintail ducks. Sign-up required, cost and other details to follow. Transportation from the Dallas area provided. Limited to 9 people, so sign up early to save a spot! Leaving early morning.  For only $25 you can enjoy transportation and a guided tour of this unique area.  Full details on how to sign up are in this pdf. Trip rated: Easy. Leaders: Sue Greer Send Email 972-247-0446 and Bill Greer Send Email

Its fun and its helpful to get out to the Cedar Ridge Preserve to help upgrade some of the beautiful walking trails just south of Dallas. The address is 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249. Its a great morning workout, and the scenery is exceptional. No tools are required, (maybe gloves) just show up and be ready to lend a hand or two. We'll work from 9 AM to 12 or earlier, and then walk around the preserve and admire the wildflowers and fauna! Its on Saturday the 21st of December, and please see their website at www.audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html  for directions and info. Their number is 972-709-7784   See you then! If you wish to carpool, then let me know, and we'll arrange a meeting spot. Come on out and stay green, people! Trip rated: Easy. Contact: Ginger Bradley Send Email 469-223-7902

Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

Meet upstairs at REI (north side of LBJ between Midway and Welch), at 6:30 PM. Bring your ideas for future outings. We'll be planning local outings and bus trips. Outings leaders, future leaders, and people interested in outings are welcome. Ask Mark to be placed on the email list for an agenda.  Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

Happy New Year everyone!  Its fun and its helpful to get out to the Cedar Ridge Preserve to help upgrade some of the beautiful walking trails just south of Dallas. The address is 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249. Its a great morning workout, and the scenery is exceptional. No tools are required, (maybe gloves) just show up and be ready to lend a hand or two. We'll work from 9 AM to 12 or earlier, and then walk around the preserve and admire the wildflowers and fauna! Bring a friend or two. Its on Saturday the 18th of January, 2014, and please see their website at www.audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html  for directions and info. Their number is 972-709-7784   See you then! If you wish to carpool, then let me know, and we'll arrange a meeting spot. Come on out and stay green, people! Trip rated: Easy. Organizer: Ginger Bradley Send Email 469-223-7902

Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

Meet upstairs at the REI Dallas store on the north side ofLBJ between Midway and Welch at 6:30 PM to participate in planning trips. Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in outings are welcome. Ask Mark to be placed on the email list for an agenda.  Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

Mark your calendar now for our annual trip to the winter beauty of northern New Mexico. Leave Dallas on our sleeper bus in the evening of Thursday, Feb. 27 and return early on Monday, March 3, staying two nights at the wonderful El Pueblo Lodge, near the Taos Plaza. Activity options include snowshoeing (for beginners and those more experienced), downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing (it's a blast!), hikes (shorter and longer) in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area and - new this year – plans for hiking the Orilla Verde section of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.  You can join the group to tour historical sites or spend time on your own to experience the galleries, museums, shops, food and beauty of this scenic and historical town. A Saturday wine and cheese social is included. Activity ratings range from easy to strenuous. Rental snowshoes and skis are available. Trip includes transportation to/from Taos, Taos Ski Valley and trailheads.  Details and cost will be posted in December. To be notified when the trip write-up becomes available and reservations open, send an email to the trip coordinator. Coordinator: Liz Wheelan Send Email 214-368-2306

Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

It's been a while since we've had a river trip due to the ongoing drought - or is it the new climate?  It's time to get those dusty boats wet.  This flat water canoe/kayak trip provides an opportunity for solitude while paddling the beautiful Neches River through the heavily wooded (and still wet) Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas. The Neches River is considered by experts to be one of the top 10 flat water rivers in the lower 48 states. The trip starts at highway 1013 near Spurger and ends 39 miles downstream at highway 96 near Silsbee. The exact section paddled could change depending on river flow. Trip rated: Moderate. Leader: Bill Greer Send Email 972-247-0446

Meet upstairs at the REI Dallas store on the north side ofLBJ between Midway and Welch at 6:30 PM to participate in planning trips. Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in outings are welcome. Ask Mark to be placed on the email list for an agenda.  Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

SAVE THE DATES for a Memorial Day weekend sleeper bus trip to this new destination!  Five to ten miles east of Alamogordo, this part of Lincoln National Forest is 5,000 feet higher and forested with fir, pine and aspen. We've reserved a group shelter for breakfast on arrival.  One option is day hikes from this appealing base camp with vault toilets and a fire pit amphitheater. All others will continue after breakfast to trailheads along the Rim Trail.  Thirty-one miles in all, the Rim Trail follows the divide between the Rio Grande and Pecos watersheds, with occasional views to White Sands and the Tularosa Valley far below.  The Rim Trail was the first National Recreational Trail in New Mexico.  Area history is tied to logging and the “Cloud-Climbing Railroad” that hauled out timber and brought in vacationers.  Railroad grade and trestle remnants are prominent features on the day hikes.  Trip options will suit prepared beginners and veteran backpackers.  Departure is Friday evening, with return before dawn Tuesday.  Email the trip coordinator to be notified when details are ready and the trip opens for reservation.   Coordinator: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733